Trees

Tree Selection Guides

Calpoly Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute Tree Selection Guide. Searchable by name, characteristics

CNPLX (California Native Plant Link Exchange) – Select local native plants for any location in the state, and find out who sells them. Visit these pages: Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Annuals, and Ferns.

Calscape.org – Learn what native plants would be good for gardens in your area. You can actually input your address, receiving valuable information on finding native plants good for your particular area, as well information on growing the plants once you have them.

The Arbor Day Foundation Tree Wizard, an online Tree Selection Guide

Large Shade Trees

• Valley Oak (Quercus lobata)
• Interior Live Oak (Quercus wislizenii)
• California Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica)

Flowering Trees

• Western Redbud, Cercis occidentalis
• Desert Willow, Chilopsis linearis
• Catalina Cherry/Hollyleaf Cherry ( Prunus ilicifolia) Small tree
• Palo Verde, Cercidium floridum
• Chaste Tree ( non-native)
• California Buckeye ( Aesculus californica) - Goes dormant in the summer, not a good yard tree.

Small Shrub Trees:

These trees are deciduous, keeping their leaves all year. They are drought tolerant. They provide food for pollinators.

• Chaste Tree (non-native)
• Chitalpa ( cross with a desert willow) (Non-native)
• Strawberry Tree ( non-native)
• Toyon ( Heteromeles arbutifolia)
• Mountain Mahogany (native tree)
• Manzanita ( native shrub tree)
• Elderberry ( native shrub tree)